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Overview of the Retail Market:

It is known that the United States is the undisputed leader of the retail market. According to the 2015 Global Powers of Retailing report, 76 of the largest retailing companies in the world are based in the U.S and an estimated two-thirds of the U.S. GDP comes from retail consumption. While the retail industry has always been one of America’s greatest assets, the ever-looming threat of e-commerce giants like Amazon, the after-effects of the Great Recession of 2008, and the Retail Apocalypse of the 2010s came close to destroying the market. The United States retail market has only just started limping back to normalcy after its dismal performance this decade. Since 2010, over 12,000 physical stores have closed in the United States. The Great Recession of 2008-2009 took a great toll on the U.S retail market and caused an immense shift in consumer behavior. North Americans cut down spending on material goods and homes, casual fashion in the workplace was replacing the rigid dress codes of the 2000s, and the rise of e-commerce meant that one could make purchases without setting foot outside their homes. However, throughout all this uncertainty and chaos, one company managed to rise above its competitors and thrive: the largest global retailer Walmart. Walmart has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the small hamlet of 1945 Bentonville. This once small general store rose to multinational status and even in the face of the Retail Apocalypse of the 2010s, it didn’t give up and adapted to the modern eCommerce scene when other major retailers downsized or even shut shop. As a new decade approaches, we ask ourselves, based on the performance of the company in the 2010s, how can we expect Walmart to perform in the 2020s and beyond? In this blog post, we look back at Walmart’s market share over the past 5 years and attempt to answer this question.  

Walmart Statistics

 In order to understand the impact Walmart has on the retail market, we must first understand where Walmart is primarily getting its business. The Walmart stores that generated the most revenue are those in Southern and Midwestern states with Oklahoma at the top with sales of $6.45 billion as of 2014. Walmart, as of the fiscal year of 2018, saw a high in the sales of video game consoles, office supplies, toys, and home essentials as shown in the table below:  

CategoryNameCategory Rank (Average)Category Rank (Count)Movies & TV ShowsMoana (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD)1.031BabyParent's Choice Fragrance-Free Baby Wipes (Choose Your Count)1.031Gifts & RegistryVisa $200 Gift Card1.031JewelleryOzark Trail Promo Watch1.031Patio & GardenDuracell 100L Spotlight1.031Auto & TiresTorin Jack Stands (Weight capacity: 2 Tons)1.031BooksDisney Bedtime Favorites1.031PetsPurina Beneful Originals With Real Beef Adult Dry Dog Food - 3.5 lb. Bag1.031Walmart for BusinessEXPO Low Odor Dry Erase Markers, Chisel Tip, Assorted Colors, 4 Pack1.031ClothingMen's Cargo Fleece Sweatpant1.131Sports & OutdoorsOzark Trail Oversized Cozy Camp Chair, Blue1.431Home ImprovementMilton S-506 Dual Head Chuck Inflator Gauge1.831HomeSlumber 1 by Zinus 8\" Spring Mattress-In-a-Box